Ogun State sits in Nigeria’s South West geopolitical zone, sharing a border with Lagos State and the Republic of Benin, with its capital at Abeokuta. The state has 20 local government areas and recorded a population of 3,751,140 at the 2006 census, projected to 6,379,500 by 2022. Every LGA below links to its full town-and-village list where we cover it.
Local Government Areas in Ogun State
Ogun State’s 20 local government areas are listed below with their 2006 census figures and 2022 projections. The list runs from the twin urban LGAs of Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South in the center of the state out to the border LGAs of Ipokia and Yewa North in the west and Ijebu East and Ogun Waterside in the east.
| LGA | 2006 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Abeokuta North | 198,793 | 338,100 |
| Abeokuta South | 250,295 | 425,700 |
| Ado-Odo/Ota | 527,242 | 896,700 |
| Ewekoro | 55,093 | 93,700 |
| Ifo | 539,170 | 917,000 |
| Ijebu East | 109,321 | 185,900 |
| Ijebu North | 280,520 | 477,100 |
| Ijebu North East | 68,800 | 117,000 |
| Ijebu Ode | 157,161 | 267,300 |
| Ikenne | 119,117 | 202,600 |
| Imeko Afon | 82,952 | 141,100 |
| Ipokia | 150,387 | 255,800 |
| Obafemi-Owode | 235,071 | 399,800 |
| Odeda | 109,522 | 186,300 |
| Odogbolu | 125,657 | 213,700 |
| Ogun Waterside | 74,222 | 126,200 |
| Remo North | 59,752 | 101,600 |
| Sagamu | 255,885 | 435,200 |
| Yewa North | 183,844 | 312,700 |
| Yewa South | 168,336 | 286,300 |
Ogun State has 20 official local government areas, and all 20 have full town-and-village lists on this site. Ifo and Ado-Odo/Ota, both bordering Lagos, carried the largest populations at the 2006 census and are projected to keep growing fastest as Lagos commuters move into the state.
Geography
Ogun State lies between Lagos State to the south and the Republic of Benin to the west, with Oyo and Osun states to the north and Ondo State to the east. The Ogun River crosses the state from north to south and passes through Abeokuta, where the granite outcrop Olumo Rock rises above the city center. In the south, Ogun Waterside borders the Lagos lagoon system, and its creeks and mangrove swamp support fishing communities. The Yewa (Egbado) area in the west and the Ijebu area in the southeast each keep a distinct dialect and traditional ruling structure within the wider Yoruba-speaking state. Terrain rises from coastal lowland in the south to gently undulating plains further north, with pockets of tropical rainforest giving way to derived savanna near the Oyo border. Egba refugees settled Abeokuta around Olumo Rock in the 1830s, using the outcrop’s caves and crevices as a defensive stronghold during the regional wars of that century, and the rock remains the city’s best-known landmark.
Economy & Local Life
Cocoa, oil palm, and cassava anchor farming across Ogun’s LGAs, alongside kola nut trade long associated with the Ijebu area. Ewekoro and Sagamu host cement plants, and factories cluster along the Lagos-Ibadan corridor and around Agbara and Sango-Ota because of the state’s proximity to Lagos. Abeokuta is known for hand-dyed adire cloth and for quarrying the granite that gives the city its name, meaning “under the rock”. Printing and publishing firms that once operated in Lagos moved to Ogun for cheaper land, and fishing remains a mainstay along the creeks of Ogun Waterside. The state hosts several federal and state universities, drawing students from across the South West. Ijebu Ode, seat of the Awujale, is best known for the annual Ojude Oba festival, when age-group societies and horse-riding chiefs parade through the town after Eid celebrations. Many towns closest to Lagos, including Ota, Ifo, and Sango, function as commuter towns for workers who travel daily into Lagos for work.
FAQ
How many local government areas are in Ogun State?
Ogun State has 20 local government areas.
What is the capital of Ogun State?
Abeokuta is the capital of Ogun State. The city sits on the Ogun River around Olumo Rock, in the Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South local government areas.
What is the population of Ogun State?
Ogun State recorded a population of 3,751,140 at the 2006 census, projected to reach 6,379,500 by 2022. Growth has been fastest in the LGAs bordering Lagos, notably Ifo and Ado-Odo/Ota.
Which LGA in Ogun State has the largest population?
Ifo LGA has the largest population in Ogun State, with 539,170 residents at the 2006 census and a 2022 projection of 917,000. Ado-Odo/Ota, its neighbor toward Lagos, is close behind with 527,242 residents at the 2006 census.
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